This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 79 No. 9, October 2007
Mt Taranaki
15 September 2007
On Friday the 14 September, four keen people jumped into a car and headed north. The weather didn't look too flash and websites were constantly changing prior to leaving. We finally got to Camphouse at North Taranaki around midnight and argued over the time to get up. Thanks to Federico, we got up at 5am, had a big breakfast and off we went. No rain, no clouds, fantastic.
Up, up and (you guessed it), more up. We decided to take the north ridge track. By the time we got to the snow, clouds started to appear, then thicken, then it became hard to see at times, but there was only a gentle breeze. At one point the clouds cleared and three gliders sped past. Up and up we went until we made it - hugs and dancing ensued. It was great to visit the crater and we were pleased the mountain allowed us up there. I think the mountain lost patience though and decided to get us down to Camphouse as fast as we could, as it started to rain liberally. Sue decided she needed a self arrest exercise which got everyone excited. She proved that the AIC training worked, and we all finally staggered back to Camphouse nine hours after we started. We were all very pleased with the climb.
We all went home the following day tired and with that grin you get after a good climb.
- Party members
- Sue Feasey and Colin Cook (both AIC grads), Federico Callegari (from Argentina) and Stuart Hutson (scribe)